Just as when we thought we’d have to wait for another month to get our dose of competitive Dota 2, the BTS studio comes to the rescue with the Dota Summit 9.

Set to take place just mere weeks before The International 2018, the BTS studio is set to put on another must-watch Dota 2 event. From July 25 to 29, six Dota 2 teams will face off against each other at the BTS House in Los Angeles.

With five of the six attending teams playing at The International 2018 — Let’s Do It, composed of former Team Kinguin members are the only ones playing in the tournament that won’t be attending TI8 — it’s worth taking a close look at the tournament.

So, who exactly is competing at Dota Summit 9? Who’re the favourites? Which teams should viewers watch out for?

Read on more below to find out.

What is the Dota Summit 9?

The Summit series of Dota 2 tournaments, hosted by Beyond The Summit, is a unique tournament that seeks to provide a “behind the scenes” oriented tournament, taking inspiration from TakeTV’s Homestory Cup in StarCraft 2.

Held at the BTS House in Los Angeles, where the crew also live and work, The Summit has also served as a tournament where Dota 2 players from all over the world can mingle and interact with each other and other invited personalities, all the while competing and preparing for TI.

Dota Summit 9 will be no exception.

Anyone interested in following the event can see it for free on YouTube, Twitch, and in the Dota 2 client.

Who is Competing in the Tournament?

The Dota Summit 9 will feature six Dota 2 teams from different parts of the globe, covering in Los Angeles for four full days of action and entertainment.

Teams earned their spot through one of two ways: by receiving a direct invite and by earning their spot via the BTS Summer Cup online tournament.

The only team to qualify via the BTS Summer Cup is Let’s Do It, while the other five Dota 2 teams that received a direct invite are as follows:

— Fnatic
–– Evil Geniuses
–– VGJ.Storm
—OpTic Gaming
— paiN Gaming

As expected, there were questions on whether it was fair to invite the said five teams, or why it’s only a six-team tournament. However, as confirmed by David ‘GoDz‘ Parker on Reddit, who eventually confirmed that they were playing was based on whether they had enough time to acquire Canada visas while playing in Los Angeles as many teams had to withdraw from the event because of this. Not only that, but BTS also wanted to focus on teams who will be competing in Vancouver, as has usually been the case with the past Summit tournaments.

Despite the relatively shallow competitive field — none of these teams made it to the Top 8 of the DPC and received a direct invite to TI8 — the Dota Summit 9 should still feature its fair share of entertainment between elite Dota 2 teams.

Dota Summit 9 Power Rankings

1. OpTic Gaming: 4.25 odds

While OpTic Gaming’s performance during the TI8 qualifiers left a lot to be desired, we should expect them to pick up their play in a LAN setting at Dota Summit 9. (OpTic Gaming)

OpTic Gaming are arguably the most successful team playing at the Dota Summit 9. But, as proven by their performance during the TI qualifiers, the gap between them and the rest of the field aren’t nearly as wide as most people thought — OpTic Gaming were the last of the three NA teams to qualify.

Of course, from what we’ve seen so far from OpTic Gaming, is that the team seems to perform differently (and much better) when in a LAN environment. Case in point, after spending the entire season failing to make it past VGJ.Storm and CompLexity Gaming, the team finally broke through and began to show results. Specifically, a win at the Starladder ImbaTV Invitational Season 5 Minor, a second-place finish at the ESL One Birmingham Major, and a Top 6 finish at the China Dota2 SuperMajor.

Although OpTic Gaming ultimately fell short of a spot in the Top 8 of the DPC and a direct invite to TI8, it’s clear that they have the makings to be a legitimate powerhouse.

At the Dota Summit 9, OpTic Gaming will be up against teams perceived to be weaker than them, and although they’re not the odds-on favourite to win it all, it’d be a surprise if they’re not at least one of the two teams left standing in the final day of the event.

2. VGJ.Storm: 3.75 odds

Resolut1on has always been most successful when in a team of underappreciated and relatively unknown players, and VGJ.Storm has proven itself to be no exception. (Team VGJ)

Bolstered by the addition of Roman ‘Resolut1on‘ Fominok in April, VGJ.Storm have emerged as one of the strongest teams in the NA region. Although they failed to follow up their win at the GESC Thailand Minor and a second-place finish at the MDL Changsha Major, they’ve shown enough to not to be taken lightly.

As is always the case with teams that have Resolut1on on their roster, VGJ.Storm are at their best when they play around the CIS superstar. But, while he is a huge factor in their success, Yawar ‘YawaR‘ Hassan is arguably just as important.

The odds-on favourite to win it all, it’ll be interesting to watch how YawaR adjusts when opposing teams start pressuring Resolut1on more and force YawaR to put VGJ.Storm on his back.

3. Fnatic: 5 odds

For better or for worse, Fnatic’s penchant for high-risk manoeuvres will make them a fun team to watch at the Dota Summit 9. (Fnatic)

Fnatic are better than how oddsmakers think of them. Really. But, they’re not exactly as good as most of their fans think they are.

They’re not legitimate threats. Far from it, actually. They’ve had more than half a season to prove that they are, and they haven’t. Not to mention, they’ve had more than their fair share of losses against Dota 2 teams that they have no business losing to. So, there’s that. But, even if they’ve failed to meet expectations, with a roster filled with veterans and youngsters alike who’ve had a long time to build chemistry, Fnatic aren’t exactly in a bad spot.

A team that’s not afraid to gamble and lose Fnatic’s high-risk and high-reward playstyle will make them fun to watch at the Dota Summit 9, regardless of whether they win or not.

4. Evil Geniuses: 4.25 odds

A strong showing at the Dota Summit 9 will serve as further validation for Evil Geniuses’ decision to break up their roster so late into the season. (Evil Geniuses)

For a Dota 2 team that hasn’t exactly shown much for their new roster, oddsmakers seem to think highly of Evil Geniuses. Perhaps it’s the brand? Or perhaps, it’s because, despite being relatively new, this is one of the stacked rosters in the world.

Two TI winners in Syed Sumail ‘SumaiL” Hassan and Gustav ‘s4‘ Magnusson; a four-time Major winning captain in Tal ‘Fly‘ Aizik; a two-time Major winning position 4 support in Andreas Franck ‘Cr1t-‘ Nielsen; and finally, Artour ‘Arteezy‘ Babaev, who, despite all of the memes about him not winning a Major or TI, remains one of the most mechanically skilled and successful Dota 2 players in the world.

That’s the gist of Evil Geniuses’ roster, and while they may not have had a lot of time to work on their chemistry, their collective experience might just be enough to trump all obstacles.

We’re not saying that Evil Geniuses can win Dota Summit 9, but we’d be foolish to sleep on them.

5. paiN Gaming: 5.5 odds

If they can keep on improving, paiN Gaming might just help speed up the development of the Dota 2 scene in South America. (paiN Gaming)

paiN Gaming are perhaps this season’s biggest what-if team, easily right up there with Winstrike.

What if paiN Gaming had brought in Aliwi ‘w33‘ Omar earlier this season? Or, better yet, what if they had a chance to scrim with better Dota 2 teams from other regions?

paiN Gaming might only have a 3rd place finish at ESL One Birmingham 2018 to show for their season, but that win, which came at the expense of Team Liquid and Fnatic, is enough to make you think what this team can do if they had more time to build chemistry and a better shot at improving while playing in another region.

They’ll have a chance to do just that at the Dota Summit 9, and if they make a deep run here, don’t be surprised if they use that momentum to start pulling off upsets at The International 2018.

6. Let’s Do It: 10 odds

One of the standout players for the former Team Kinguin squad, Natan ‘Exotic_Deer’ Michalewicz will be one of the first to be poached from the roster once the post-TI8 shuffle starts. (Team Kinguin)

Let’s Do It beat both ESPADA and Wind and Rain to qualify for the Dota Summit 9. That’s something. Those two Dota 2 teams came very close to qualifying for TI8. But, they didn’t, because Winstrike and OG, respectively, are better than them, and up against Dota 2 teams that are on the same level if not better than Winstrike and OG, the former Team Kinguin members are way over their head here.

Final Thoughts

Never the most prestigious and absolutely never one to take itself seriously, but a favourite of the entire Dota 2 community, the Dota Summit 9 should be fun to watch.

If nothing else, it’ll make for great practice for the five Dota 2 teams who will be heading into The International 2018, and for Let’s Do It, a chance to audition for a new organization to pick them up, either as an entire team or as individuals.